Connectivity notification displaying path to connection

• US 7,369,850 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sun, Ray, Maguire, Justin, Brown, Shawn, Andrew, Felix G., Koch, Zeke, Whitney, Chad
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan; Richard
• Application Number:
  US10/292,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,002 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/407, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method in a connectivity user interface of a mobile device that enables a user to inspect and select a connection from among available network connections and methods of connecting. If the user alternatively wants a connection to be automatically selected by the device, the connectivity user interface allows the user to verify the connection that will be made when required. An easily accessible connectivity dialog displays configured connections, and connection data. Before a connection is established, the connection data may describe a type of connection, such as the telephone number for a dial-up connection. After a connection is established, the connection data may describe the connection'"'"'s status, such as the amount of time the connection has been in use. A link in the connectivity user interface enables the user to efficiently configure or reconfigure a connection.

Claims

1. In a computing device including multiple programs configured to use a network connection, a method comprising:

providing a connectivity user interface, the connectivity user interface displaying information of at least one configured network connection and allowing user inspection of the at least one configured network connection prior to connecting to the at least one configured network connection, the information including a connection identity and connection data indicative of a type of connection for that identity;

prior to launching a program, receiving user input directed to selecting a network connection displayed on the connectivity user interface, and selecting that connection as a selected connection, wherein the selected connection is to be used by subsequently launched programs on the computing device; and

connecting to a network corresponding to the selected connection in response to the user input, regardless of previously established program-connection relationships that specify which connection would automatically be used with a particular program.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing an icon which when actuated provides the connectivity user interface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection data indicates the connection identity by displaying a user given text name corresponding to that connection.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection data indicates the type of connection for a dial-up connection by displaying data including a telephone number corresponding to that connection.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving user input comprises, receiving the user input corresponding to a location where the information of the selected connection is displayed.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing a disconnect mechanism to disconnect from the network.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising, receiving user input corresponding to the disconnect mechanism, and in response, disconnecting from the network.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing a mechanism by which a user may navigate to a connection configuration user interface.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing a mechanism that a user may manipulate to indicate a location from which a displayed connection is to be dialed.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing a mechanism to hide the connectivity user interface.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing an indicator on the connectivity user interface that indicates when the device is connected to the network.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the indicator comprises a time display that indicates an amount of time that the device has been connected to the network.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising, updating the time display while the device is connected to the network.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

29. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the connectivity user interface further comprises the connectivity user interface allowing user modification of the at least one configured connection.

15. In a computing device including multiple programs configured to use a network connection, a method comprising:

providing a connectivity user interface, the connectivity user interface displaying each of a plurality of network connections that are not currently connected and allowing user inspection of each of the plurality of said network connections prior to connecting to any of the network connections, the connectivity user interface providing a mechanism for receiving user input directed to connecting to a user selected network connection;

prior to launching a program, receiving user input directed to selecting a network connection displayed on the connectivity user interface, and selecting that connection as a selected connection, wherein the selected connection will be used by any program launched on the computing device;

receiving a request from a program to use a network connection;

in response to the request, determining whether one of the network connections is one that was selected by the user and is currently connected; and

if the network connection is one that was selected by the user and is currently connected, using that user-selected currently connected connection to satisfy the request, regardless of previously established program-connection relationships that specify which connection would automatically be used with a particular program; and

if a network connection is not one that was selected by the user and is not currently connected, automatically selecting a selected connection from among the plurality of network connections that were not selected by the user and are not connected, connecting to the selected connection, and using the selected connection to satisfy the request.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the user requests connection to one of the network connections, and further comprising, connecting to network connection requested by the user.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the user launches the program after requesting connection to one of the network connections such that if the program requests to use a network connection, the network connection used will comprise the network connection requested by the user.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the connectivity user interface displays information for each connection including a connection identity and connection data indicative of a type of connection for that identity.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein providing the connectivity user interface comprises, detecting a request to display the connectivity user interface, and in response to the request, obtaining information to display and displaying the connectivity user interface including at least some of the information.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 15.

31. The method of claim 15, wherein providing the connectivity user interface further comprises the connectivity user interface allowing user modification of the at least one configured connection.

21. A method in a computer system including multiple programs configured to use a network connection, comprising:

receiving a user request to provide a connectivity user interface;

providing the connectivity user interface in response to the request, including obtaining connection information for at least one configured network connection and allowing user inspection of the at least one configured network connection prior to connecting to the at least one configured network connection, the information including a connection identity and corresponding connection data; and

displaying the connectivity user interface, including for each of the at least configured networks;

i) displaying a connection identity and connection data that indicates a type of connection for that connection identity, and

ii) providing an interface mechanism by which a user can request connection to the network corresponding to the connection identity, wherein a user can select a new connection that is to be used by subsequently launched regardless of previously established program-connection relationships that specify which connection would automatically be used with a particular program.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein a connection to a network exists, and further comprising, providing an interface mechanism in the connectivity user interface by which a user can request disconnection from the network.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein a connection to a network exists, and wherein displaying information indicating that the connection to the network exists comprises displaying an amount of time that the device has been connected to the network.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising, updating the time display while the device is connected to the network.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein no connection to a network exists, and wherein the connection data indicates the type of connection for a dial-up connection by displaying data including a telephone number corresponding to that connection.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising, providing a mechanism that a user may manipulate to indicate a location from which the telephone number is to be dialed.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising, providing a mechanism in the connectivity user interface by which a user may navigate to a connection configuration user interface.

28. The method of claim 21 further comprising, providing a mechanism to bide the connectivity user interface.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein providing the connectivity user interface further comprises allowing user modification of the at least one configured connection.